Means of attaching rudders to vessels



(Model) R. S. WATSON & P. H. DURELL.

MEANS OF ATTAGHING RUDDERS T0 VESSELS. No. 249,704. Patented NOV. 15,1881.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT S. WATSON AND FRANK H. DURELL, OF BAY CITY, MICHIGAN.

MEANS OF ATTAC HING RUDDERS TO VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 249,704, dated November 15, 1881.

(Model) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, R. S. WATSON and F. H. DURELL, of Bay City, in the county of Bay and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Manner of Attaching Rudders to Vessels; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

Our invention relates to an improvenientin the manner of attaching rudders to vessels; and it consists in a guide whichis secured to the stern of the vessel, and which has a vertical slot made through one side, extending its whole length, and a series of horizontal slots extending at right. angles thereto, so that after the rudder has been inserted into position it can only be removed by turning it at right angles to the length of the boat, and then raising it vertically, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of-our invention has been to devise a quick and easy manner of attaching and detaching the rudders of boats of all kinds, and more especially smaller boats where the rudder is to be frequently removed.

Figure l is a side elevation of our invention complete. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the rudder and guide detached. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the guide, which is attached to the rear end of the boat.

A represents the guide, which is attached to the rear end of the boat, and which will preferably be made slightly longer than the height of the rudder. This guide is shaped like a pipe or tube, and has a vertical slot, D, cut down one side, and through which the connections for the rudder-post move while the rudder is being inserted into and removed from position. Through this guide, at suitable distances apart, are also made the horizontal slots C, so that after the rudder-post D has been placedin the guide the connections E can move freely back and forth, and thus allow the mid-- der to be turned in any position. The rudderpost is secured to the rudder by means of the connections E and the straps G, which are secured to opposite sides of the rudder, as shown.

' The horizontal slots cut in the guide of course correspond exactly to the distance which the connections are placed apart.

In order to place the rudder in position, itis only necessary to turn the rudder at right angles to the length of the boat, so that the con nections E will come in a line with the vertical slot, and then the rudder will sink down into position from its own weight. As soon as the rudder is turned into line with the boat the connections E catch in the horizontal slots, and while these connections allow the rudder to be freely worked back and forth, they prevent the rudder from being removed until the rudder has again turned around at right angles, so as to bring the connections again in line with the vertical slot. It being only necessary to get the connections in line with the vertical slot, the rudder can be instantly removed and replaced whenever desired.

We are aware that a rudder has heretofore been used having two eyes, one of'which is slotted, secured to it, and that a post has been secured to the rear end of the boat by means of web, and this we disclaim.

We are also aware that it is not'new to form a slot down through the rear side of the guidetube, and this we also disclaim.

Having thus described our invention, we claim- The combination of a guiding-tube, A, having the vertical slot D made through its side, and the horizontal openings 0, extending from this slot on one side to near the end of the boat on the opposite side, the post D connected to the rudder by the straps G and connections E, the openings O being made just wide enough to receive the connections, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT S. WATSON. FRANK H. DURELL.

Witnesses:

STEPHEN T. THoRN, CLARENCE O. ELWELL- 

